For Sale By Owner Guide

IT PAYS TO USE A PROFESSIONAL Can you sell your home by yourself?

Many of us have a "Do It Yourself" streak that needs to be satisfied. The great incentive in selling by owner is in the perceived opportunity to save the real estate commission. We encourage you to consider carefully whether the actual savings will be su cient to o set the following hurdles which you may encounter. (Bear in mind that the buyer also expects to save the commission by o ering you a lower sales price.) • Do you really have the knowledge to sell your home? • Have you gathered market condition data for your neighborhood from a qualified resource? • Do you understand real estate disclosure laws? • Do you understand Fair Housing laws? • Are you comparing homes in your area from an unbiased and unemotional viewpoint in order to determine real value? • Do you feel comfortable showing your home to perfect strangers at whatever hour may be necessary? • Are you prepared to be at home every weekend and in the evenings to show the property? • Are you familiar with the multi-page real estate purchase contract commonly used in Arizona, and do you understand how to fill it out in order to protect yourself? • Do you understand the financing products available to your buyer, including the advantages and disadvantages of a seller carryback? • Do you know how to choose a title company, a lender, appraiser, termite company, and home warranty company? • Are you prepared to deal with the outcome of a property inspection? • Do you need to hire a real estate attorney and how much will he or she be charging for services? • How and where will you advertise in order to achieve maximum exposure? (The first ten days are critical.) Simply put; the stress and time required to sell your home needs to be given serious consideration. If you sell your home yourself, you will work very hard to do it. Only you can decide if you have the time and patience to take on a project of this magnitude.